Alternative Medicine Reduces IVF Success Rates

Filed in archive IVF and Assisted Pregnancies on August 20, 2009

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Many people believe are lured to trying out alternative medicine, thinking that the worse thing that can happen is that it won't work. Among those who are having infertility issues, the same mode of thinking is quite prevalent. Before trying the more expensive and invasive IVF and work-ups, why not give alternative medicine a try first?

Not a good idea.

According to new research, the IVF treatment success rate is 30% lower among women who have used alternative medicine. Based on a study of more than 700 patients who had IVF treatments, they found that women who had first tried a combination of alternative treatments, such as reflexology, acupuncture, or herbal- and aroma therapy, had significantly lower pregnancy rates after IVF treatment.

It could be that the results are skewed in that those women who were already having more trouble conceiving were more likely to revert to alternative fertility treatments but until that has been clarified, couples are advised against the use of alternative therapies when also having IVF.